TODAY'S juvenile delinquent is tomorrow's adult criminal.

The issue of a group of teenagers allegedly running amok at a leading regional shopping centre is a symptom of a poor and/or neglected upbringing.

If the claims are true - and there seems to be no reason for the retailer to spread misinformation - these youths show a complete lack of respect for society and authority as they lash out with no regard for the law or consequences.

There is no future in what they are doing; only a short-term thrill in their cat and mouse game with security and business owners.

But if allowed to go unchecked they could easily graduate into more serious crime.

They appear to be prime candidates for some form of boot camp development.

I have no doubt that they would be easy to identify and each individual assessed as to finding some explanation behind their behaviour.

Maybe during the next school holidays they could be sent off to a football skills development camp.

But their wayward behaviour could also be a cry for help from neglected or possibly abused children that may lead to much-needed intervention by authorities.

I was in Singapore on holidays recently and noticed a sign on a wall at a food market in the Little India district.

It read, "If you or someone you know needs social assistance call (phone number).''

Perhaps we could use signs like these around the region to help identify at-risk kids before they fall through the cracks of child safety support.